Knitting-machine.



J. H. RICE.

KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE'ZILIBIS- Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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John H.Rice

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RICE. KNITTING MACHINE.

'7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1915.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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J. H. RICE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

'LICATION FILED JUNE 2|, 1915.

Patented Feb. 13,1917.

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John H.F? ice, byMM&W

- racking operation has ceased.

' WED s'r ES PATE JOHN H. RICE, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSI GNOR T0 LEIGHTON MACHINE COMPANY, OF MARNCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF NEW HAMP- SHIRE.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. RICE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Manchester, county of Hillsborough, State of New Hampshire, have invented an Im provement in Knitting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to-improvements in knitting machines in which the needles are racked 0r shogged at will to provide for changes in the knitting stitch.

In machines of this type a portion of the knitting mechanisms must remain inoperative in order that the needles may be moved laterally relatively to one another without interference. Heretofore it has been customary therefore to assemble the needle actuating mechanisms upon onlya portion of the actuator so that racking may be accomplished upon the sections upon which there is no needle actuating mechanism. By reason of this fact the output of the machines is limited to the number of feeds which may be employed upon the portion of the knitting mechanism which contains the needle actuating devices. w

' The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby feeds may be employed at desired points throughout the entire extent of the needle supporting means by supplying to certain portions intermittentlv operable needle actuating mechanisms which may be rendered inoperative during the: racking operation and may be restored to knitting position automatically after the The invention is disclosed herein as applied to a lmitting machine of the type exemplified in the patent to Leighton and Rice No. 596,301 granted 'Dec. 28,1907. In machines of this type the racking guides for the needles are constructed in partially circular sections adapted'to be shifted by suitable mechanism to bend the dial needles frointheiinormal radial positions, relative to the cylinder needles, so-that for'some stitches'theymay pass the cooperating cyl 'in'der needles at one sidefand' for other stitches may ass at the other side of said (flvlinder needles,mechanism being provided to eau'se'- them to assume either position to knit any"*"desired number of courses. In

Specification of Letters Patent.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Patented Feb, 13, 1917.

Application filed June 21, 1915. Serial No. 35,238.

such machines one section of the racking guide is shifted automatically while knitting is being performed by the needles controlled by another section of the racking guide. c

This invention may also be applied to split plate or split cylinder machines in which the needle plate or cylinder is made in sections and the sections are moved bodily to rackthe needles instead of bending the needles in the manner above described.

As above stated the output of such machines is limited by the number of feeds which may be provided while leaving the needles on one section of the'racking guide inoperative so that the latter may be shifted, whereas in continuous knittingwithout change to the racked stitch a greater number of feeds may'be employed, with corresponding increased delivery of the knitted product. I

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this type with an-increased number of feeds all of which may be utilized while making one set of stitches, with means to render the needle actuating mechanisms upon one part of the machine inoperative during the racking operation, so that normally the machine may operate with a maximum number of feeds and at its greatest output during the main portion of the knitting operation and with a reduced number offeeds only while the needles are racked, which is ordinarily a relatively small portion of the time required in knitting a garment. e

Another object of the invention is to provide in such amachine, automatic means of cutting and retaining the yarns which lead to the intermittently operable knitting mechanisms while the latter remain inoperative .and for rendering inoperative the tucking and other associated mechanisms during such idle period.

Another object of the invention is toqprovide means for insuring the supension of operation of the intermittently operable knitting 'mechanism 'slightly',in advance of and throughout the racking operation-to prevent the possibility of 'interference of the needles duringthe sliiftingof'the racking guides.

Other objects of "the inventionrelate to Simplified mechanisms for performing the usual functionsromnion to" knitting Imaon lines 4-4 Fig. 3 showing the mechanism chines of this character as will more fully appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and which will be more particularlypointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside view of so much of a knitting machine as is necessary to illustrate my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the dial needle cam,

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view for shifting the throw-out cams,

Fig.5 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the mechanism for cutting and holding the yarn during the period of suspension of operation of the intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cutter and clamp and the supporting post therefor,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the needle plate and needles and of the end of the needle cylinder showing the needles in racked or shogged position, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the needles in normal or radial position.

the knitting mechanism and is provided with a bracket or stand 2 having journals 3, 4, for the main shaft 5 which is provided with the usual fast and loose pulleys 67 thereon and belt shifter 8 which may be manually operated by hand levers 9 extending from each side of the machine, and which preferably also may be controlled by suitable automatic stop mechanism (not shown) the bed being supported by the usual form of standard having take up mechanism for the knitted fabric and such other accessories as are usual in knitting machines and which form no part of the present invention.

The main shaft 5 is provided with a suitable gear (not shown) ,which meshes with r the beveled gear 10 on the dial cam plate 11,

which is provided with the usual yoke 12 having a central boss 13 supporting the vertical central shaft 14 which supports and ac tuates the usual cylinder needle actuating cam 15. Y a

The needle cylinder 16 having a series of I needles 17 maybe of the usual type and may be supported and prevented from rotation in the ordinary manner. The needle cylinder cam is provided with the required number of needle actuating cams to cause the cylinder needles to cooperate with the dial needles at the several knitting points, and suitable tucking mechanism (not shown) may also be provided.

The needle dial plate comprises a circular plate 20 having radial grooves 21 to receive the reciprocating dial needles 22. The underside of the inner periphery of the plate is provided with undercut portions 201 and 202 to receive the members 23 which support the racking guides 24, 25 and a keeper plate therefor.

The racking guide supporting means consists of two semi-circular ring portions the ends of which are sufiiciently separated to permit the necessary movements to rack the guides. The racking guides 24, 25 are secured to the supporting members by suitable screws as illustrated in Fig. 4 and are so disposed that their upper surfaces are level with the surface of the plate 20. The racking guides preferably are brass plates having ribs or flanges 26 provided with needle guiding slots 27. A .keeper plate 28 circular in form and of irregular or stepped cross section as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is fitted in the recess 202 of the plate 20 and is secured thereto by suitable screws as illustrated in Fig. 4. This keeper plate under lies and supports the racking guides 24, 25 and their supporting rings 23 and the end of the keeper preferably extends around the periphery of the racking guides 25 to the level of the upper surface of the plate 20. The keeper plate 28 is provided with suitable slots 280 to permit the movement of studs connected to the supporting rings 23 and actuated by mechanism hereinafter to be described alternately to shift the racking guides.

The iriner plate 28 may be undercut to provide a guideway for a rotatable segmental needle' supporting ,member or stitch steel 29 which may be carried by an annular ring gear 30 driven. by gearing not shown in unison Withthe rotation of the dial needle .cam plate, so that the supporting members may always be maintained beneath the dial needles at the knitting points to bridge'the space between the inner periphery of the plate 28' and the upper surface of the needle cylinder 16, thereby preventing accidental bending of the dial needles.

' The racking guides for thedial needles, are automatically actuated to flex the needles in the manner aforesaid by mechanism controlled by a pattern chain, controlling means also being provided which actuates means hereinafter to be described to render inoperative the needle actuating mechanism on one half of the dial needle cam,; so that the guiding racks may .be shifted. succesout causing interference of the dial and cylinder needles, for it will be recognized thatif racking were attempted with all the knitting mechanisms in operation certain of the dial needles would be forced laterally against their cooperating cylinder needles with disastrous results.

In the construction illustrated herein the racking guide 24 is provided with a downwardly extending stud 31 to which is attached a link 32 leading to and adjustably connected by pin and slot connection 32 to the arm 33 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted upon a stud 34 projecting down-- wardly from the bed plate 1, the other arm 35 of said bell crank lever being provided with a stud 36 resting in a cam groove 37 in a cam cylinder 38 which is mounted upon a countershaft 39 adapted to be rotated from the main shaft in a manner which will here inafter be described.

The racking guide 25 is likewise provided with a downwardly projecting stud 40 (see Fig. 4) which may be adj ustably connected, as by a pivoted screw threaded sleeve 41, to a'link 42 which is connected at'its other end to one end of a lever 43 which conveniently may be pivoted on the stud 34, the

opposite end of the lever 43 being provided with a stud 44 engaging another cam groove 45 in the cam cylinder 38.. The cams' 37 and 45 are so formed as to shift the racking guides 24, 25 one after the other thus permitting continuous operation of the needle operating mechanism first upon one side, and then upon the other side, or half, of the dial needle actuating cam.

The mechanism for rotating the cam cylinder 38 may be and as illustrated herein, is like that disclosed in Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 8 of the Leighton and Rice patent above mentioned. The shaft 39 to which the cam cylinder 38 is fixed is rotatably mounted in brackets 4G47 on the stand 2 and is driven through a worm 48 on the main shaft which meshes with a worm wheel 49 which is rovided with a pin or stud 51 which engages: the cam surface 52 of a dog 53 which 15 pivoted upon a shaft 54 mounted in bearing brackets 55,56 carriedfby the stand 2; the (log 52 being held in engagement with the sleeve'50 bvthe helical spring 57 which surrounds the shaft 54,;an'd is attached to said shaft and 'to' the bearing 56 in such a manner as to depress the dog upon the sleeve. When the pin 51 is engaged by the cam surface 52 of the dog 53 the sleeve 50 is moved lengthwise of the shaft until the clutch members are separated against the force of the helical spring 58 which surrounds the shaft 39 intermediate of the cam cylinder 38 and the sleeve 50.

The cam cylinder is thus caused to remain at rest during the normal operation of the machine.

The actuation of the racking. guides may be controlled by any suitable pattern mechanism. A convenient form, which is illustrated herein comprises a pattern chain (30 having high links 61 which actuate a system of levers to raisethe dog out of engagement with the pin 51 thus permitting the sleeve 50 to be forced by the spring 58 along the shaft 39 until its clutch face engages that of the worm gear as aforesaid.

The pattern chain 60 is carried by a drum 62 which is fixed upon a transverse shaft 62 mounted in suitable bearings 64 in a bracket 65 which may be secured to the under face of the base plate 1 by bolts or screws. The shaft 63 is rotated through a ratchet wheel 66 likewise fixed to the shaft 63 and which is impelled by a pawl 67 mounted upon'an eccentric 68 upon a countershaft 69, journaled in the bracket 65, the shaft 69 being provided witha gear 70 which is rotated oted on the shaft 54,. the other arm 80 of which engages a pin 81 which is. fixed in a boss 82 integral and extending laterally from. the dog 53. A spring 83 fixed to the bell crank arm 78 and to a pin on, the stand 2 normally tendsto rock the bell crank arm 80 from engagement-with the pin 81.

In the operation of the machine when racking is called for the highlinks (51 of the chain '60 raise the pin 73'ofthe bell crank arm 74 thus rocking said bell crank and through the links 77 rocking the bell crank arm 78 andcausing the arm 80 to engage and raise the pin 81' and with it the dog 53, thus releasing said dbgirom engagement with the pin 51. The sleeve 5Ov is then forced along the shaft 39 by the spring 58 until its clutch faceenga'ges fthe,jclutch face of the worm gear 49,thus rotatingthe shaft 39 and cam cylinder ,38 .andfcaii singthe cams 39,

.and45 toact-uate weavers which shift respectively the racking guides 24 and 25 in" tion device 79 is used to control the movement of the shaft 39 and prevent its overthrow.

In the machine illustrated in the drawing four feeds of the usual type are provided preferably one for each Quadrant of the needle actuating cam plate, two located upon the needles at these points, automatic means being provided to return the cams tooperative position and to release the yarn as soon as the dial needles are restored to their radial position for rib knitting.

The needle actuating cam plate,an underneath plan view of which is shown in Fig. 3,is provided with the usual groove 85 to receive the butts of the dial needles, and the usual knitting cams 86 are provided. These cams are provided with means for automatically varying the throw of the needles to provide for forming loops of different length. I

As illustrated herein each knitting cam 86 has a stud 87 extending through a slot in the dial cam plate, the stud being engaged,

near its upper end, on one side by the end of an adjusting screw 88 mounted on a suitable adjusting screw 89 on a cover plate 90, and is engaged on the other side by the hooked end of a U-shaped spring 91, which tends to force the stud 87 into engagement with the end of the adjusting screw 88. The, Studs and cams are adapted to be moved to vary the length of the loops, by levers 92 whlch lie under said adjusting screws and which are pivotally mounted upon studs 93. The levers 92 are provided with adjustable screws through which'they are actuated in the usual manner by pivoted arms 95, 96 97, 98 respectively which extend.

beyond the periphery of the dial cam plate, and are adapted to be engaged by a pattern controlled cam 99. The pattern controlled cam is supported upon studs extending upwardly from the bed plate and .is provided with a stem 100 extending through the, bed

plate into the path of a pattern chain carried y a drum upon the shaft 63.

In the normal operationof the machine the cam 99 forces the ends of the levers inwardly thus positioning the knitting cams 86 in normal position. In order to hold the kmttmg cams in normal position during the rotation of the dial cam plate a series of spring actuated dogs 101 are provided. These dogs preferably are in the form of bell crank levers having at one end hooked shaped extensions adapted to engage corresponding recesses in the ends .of the levers 95, 96, 97 98 respectively. The other arms of said dogs are provided with studs carrying antifriction rollers 102, the rollers lying in a difierent plane than that of the levers 95, 96, 97 and 98. In the normal operation of the machine therefore the ends of the levers 95, 96, 97, 98 will be forced inwardly until the dogs 101 engage the recess in the ends of said levers and the cams 86 will consequently be retained in normal position during the rotation of the dial cam plate.

The engagement of the hooked ends of the dog with the levers aforesaid permits the other arms of said dog with the rollers bearings to project outwardly beyond the periphery of the dial cam plate so that when the cam plate 99 is'elevated by a high link on the pattern chain it will be raised out of the plane of the levers 95, 96, 97 and 98 and will be placed in the plane of the "rollers 102 upon the arms of the dogs 101 so that during the further rotation'of the cam plate the dogs will be released successively from the levers 95, 96, 97 98 permitting said levers to beforced outwardly by their springs. This movement of the levers 95, 96, 97, 98 will cause the movement of the cams 86 to regulate the amount of reciprocation of the dial needles and consequently the length of the loops formed by the needles, as is usual in knitting machines of this t e.

i ft will be understood that the cams 86 thus described serve only to force the dial needles outwardly and that complementary orcooperating cams are provided to cause the inward movement of the dial needles to engage the yarn. As illustrated herein two sets of such cams are provided. The cams 108 and 109 of one set being preferably rigidly secured to the dial cam plate and mainreciprocation of the dialneedles and consequent knitting thereby. The other set of cams which will be referred to herein as throw-out cams are adapted to be maintained normally in' knitting position but to be thrown into inoperative position ,during the racking operation. These throw out cams comprise parallel guides 110, 111 pivotally mounted respectively upon studs 112 and 113, the adjacent wallsof said guides forming continuations of the slot 85 which engages the butts of the dial needles. These guides when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 are adapted to reciprocate the dial needles successively and in coiiperation with the feeding mechanism to knit in the usual manner, at this time all four feeds bemg employed, but they are adapted to be forced outwardly so that their adjacent surfaces will form practically unbroken sections of the clrcular path 85, as is illustrated in dotted lines Fig. 3 so that they will not reciprocate the dial needles. -At this time two feeds only will be employed. I

In order to move the guides 110 and 111 whlch constitute the. throw out cams in unison from one position to the other they are provided with studs 114, 115, (which for convenience in assembling may be made in two partsas shown in Fig. 4,) extending through slots 116, 117 in the dial cam plate and seated in cross heads 118 which are provided with central posts 119 which are connected by links 120 to levers 121 which are plvotally mounted upon a ledge 122 integral with or secured to the upper surface of the dial cam plate. I

The levers 121 may 'be fulcrumed upon studs 123 intermediate of their length and the ends opposite to those to which the posts 119 are connected maybe attached to springs 124 adapted to draw said ends inwardly so as to thrust the ends to which said posts are attached'outwardly beyond the periphery of the dial cam plate and also to force the throw out cams into inoperative position.

In order to cause the throw out cams 110, 111 to assume knitting position,as

shown in full lines in Fig. 3,-a pattern controlled cam 125 is provided, which is normally in the path of the extended ends of the levers 121. v

The cam 125 is supported upon suitable guides extending upwardly from the base plate and is provided with a downwardly extending pin 126, the lower end of which lies mounted upon a drum carried by the shaft 63. In the normal operation of the machine, when the pin 1.26 rests upon the low links of the chain the cam 125 is in position .to force the ends of the levers 121 inwardly so that the throw out cams 110 and 111 are in knitting position.

In order to retain the throw-out cams in this position during their rotation inknitlevers 121 are provided with notches engaged by pivoted spring actuated dogs 127 which have rounded tails 128 lying in a plane 'above the plane of the levers 121. When the dogs '12? are engaged with the levers 121 the tt1lS-128 PIO]eCt beyond the periphery of the dial cam plate so that they are adapted to be engaged by the cam 125 when the latter is raised by-a high link on thepattern chain.

.It will be obvious thereforethat when a high link of the pattern chain engages and IaISBS thG pin 126 and through it the cam plate 125 the tails128 ofthe dogs 127 will ing edge.

be moved inwardly, releasing the dogs from engagement with the levers 121 against the action of springs so that the levers121 will be forced outwardly by their springs 124,

thus moving the cross head 118 outwardly,

through the link 120 and post 119, and carrying the throw out camsllO and'111 to inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Inasmuch as it is impossible to'rack the Iieedles until the knitting on one side of the machine has ceased, safety means are provided to insure the actuation of the throw out cams 110, 111 to inoperative position before the racking guides 24, 25, are shifted. As illustrated herein this means consists of a collar 129 fast upon the pin 126 having a laterally extending arm 130 provided with a set screw 131 which rests upon the head of the pin 73 which engages the pattern chain controlling the racking mechanism. If therefore the cam plate 125 is'not raised when racking is called for, when the high links of the racking pattern chain engage the pin 73 and raise the same, the cam 125 will be raised by its pm 126 so that said cam 125 will engage the tails 128 of the dogs 127 releasing the engagement of the latter with the levers 121 so that the throw out cams 110, 111 are forced into inoperative POSltiOIL Whereupon the racking guides are shifted in the manner aforesaid.

When the throw out cams 110,111-are in inoperative position, and consequently not knitting, it is necessary to cut and hold the yarn which passes through the adjacent feeds. To accomplish this purpose I have provided a cutter and holder adjacent to the knitting pointwhich is adapted to sever the yarn after the throw out cams 110, 111 are in the path 'of a pattern chain suitablyxrendered inoperative and to hold the severed 135 adjustably secured by a set screw 136 in a boss 137 in the cylinder cam in coiiperative relation to the knitting points of each of the sets of throw outpams, 110,111. A pa1r of stationary blades 138, 139 are fixedly secured ting, the usual rib stitch, the ends of the I A movable blade 140 is mounted between said blades 138, 139 on a pivot 141 and is provided at one side witha cutting edgeand at the other with a rounded edge to codper= v ate respectively with the stationary cutting and clamping blades. V I

The movable blade is preferably provided 142 which'is pivoted to the end of alink 143 with an integral upwardly. extending arm the semicircular plate 122 on the edge of the dial needle cam plate, the tendency of said spring 144 being to close the cutter and clamp.

The lever 143 however is provided with a stud 146 which engages the inner face of a cutter actuating lever 147 (see Fig. 2) pivotally mounted upon the plate 122 and having an outwardly extending end lying in the path of the cam plate 125 when'the latter is in normal position, so that the lever will be forced inward and through the stud 146 will open the cutter and clamp.

The lever is normally retained in such position by a dog 148 which is pivotally mounted on the plate 122 and has a hooked end engaging a suitable recess in the end of the lever 147. The dog 148 is adapted to be rocked to release the lever 147 through a link 149 connected toone arm of a bell crank lever 150 which is pivotally mounted on the plate 122, the other arm of said bell crank having a roller 15llying in a higher plane and projecting into the path ofthe cam plate 125 when the latter is raised to engage the dogs 128 to render the throw out guide cams inoperative. The dog 148 is normally 147 by a spring 152.

held in engagement with the end of the leve In the operation of the machine the action of the pattern chain in raising the cam 125 first causes the throwing out of the cams 110, 111 by engagement with the dogs 128 and thereafter by actuating the bell crank 150 through its contacting roller 151 releases the dogs 148 from the levers 147 permitting said levers to swing outwardly and thus enabling the spring 144 to draw the link 143 outwardly to close the cutter and clamp. After the. racking is completed the cam plate 125 is permitted to drop to normal position, whereupon it engages the levers "121 and restores the throw out cams to'knitting position, and upon further rotation of the dial cam plate engages the lever 147, forces the same inward and releases the cutters an clamps in the manner aforesaid.

In addition to the mechanisms above de-.

scribed the knitting machine disclosed herein comprises means for casting off the loops of the needles to form a finish and a separating course between the garment being knitted and the next succeeding garment.

stitutes a continuation of the circular outer wall of the groove 85 but which is adapted to be moved inwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines, a suflicient distance to perform the function above stated. The cam 150 is provided with an upwardly projecting stud 152 which extends through a slot 153 in the cam dial plate and at. its upper end is rotatably mounted in the end of a lever 154. This lever is pivoted upon a stud 155 extending upwardly from the upper surface of the cam dial plate.

A spring 156 bearing upon the inner side of said lever tends to force the same outwardly thereby holding the end of the lever 154 beyond the periphery of the dial cam plate and the cam 150 in inoperative posi- -tion. In order to force the cam into operative or casting off position a cast-off cam plate 157 is provided which is mounted upon a suitable pin 159 extending downwardly through the bed plate into the path of a pattern chain. The cam plate 157 may be provided at its inner end with an anti-friction roller 160 adapted to engage the projecting end of the lever 154 to force the same inwardly and thereby position the cam 150 in casting off position. In order to retain the cam 150 in casting-oil position during a complete rotation of the dial cam plate a dog 161 is provided which has a hooked end adapted to engage a corresponding recess in the end of the lever 154. The dog 161 is provided with a tail 162 which, when the dog is in engagement with the lever 154, extends beyond the periphery of the cam dial plate so that upon the completion of the rotation of the cam dial plate during the. casting off operation the tail 162 will engage the roller 160 of the cam plate '157 and will release the lever 154 permitsired be connected to the stitch controlling mechanism so that the tucking mechanism which coiiperates with the intermittently operable knitting mechanism may be rendered inoperative during the racking oper- 'ation.

Knitting machines of this character may also be provided with other useful accessories which however form no part of'the present invention and need not be described.

It will be understood that the construction shown herein is illustrative merely and that the invention may be'embodied in various other formsof knitting machines and as split plate or split cylinder types of knitting machines within the scope of the claims hereto annexed.

It will also be obvious that various modifications in detail may be made in the present construction Within the scope of the ing the cooperation of said needles to knit at a corresponding plurahty of points, and

means for suspending, during the racking operation,'the action of certain of said means for causing the operation of the needles.v

2. A knitting machine comprising two sets of needles, means for racking theneedles of one set, a plurality of actuating mechanisms for causing the cooperation of said needles to knit at a corresponding plurality of points, means for suspending, during the racking operation, the action of certain of the actuating mechanisms for one set of needles.

3. A rib stitch knitting machine compris-. ing a plurality of sets of needles, means for racking one set of needles, a plurality of actuating mechanisms for causing the coiip- I eration of said needles to knit at a corresponding plurality of points, means for suspending the action of certain of the actuating mechanisms for one set of needles during the racking operation, and means operable in synchronism with said racking means for insuring the suspension of operation of said actuatingmechanisms during the rackingloperation.

4. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising a plurality of sets of needles, means for racking one set of needles, a plurality of needle actuating mechanisms for 'causing the cooperation of said needles to knit at a corresponding plurality of points, means for feeding yarn to the needles at such points,

means for suspending the action of certain of the needle actuating mechanisms during the racking operation and means for cutting and holding the yarn leading to the suspended knitting mechanisms during the racking operation.

5. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising a plurality of sets of needles, means for racking one set of needles, a plurality of needle actuating mechanisms for causing the cooperation of said needles to knit at a corresponding plurality of points, means for feeding yarn to theneedles at such points, means for suspending the action of certain of the needle actuating mechanisms during the racking operation, means for cutting and holding the yarn leading to the suspended knitting mechanisms during the racking operation and automatically operable means for releasing said holding mechanism upon resumption of operation by the suspended needle actuating mechanisms.

6. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cylinder and dial needles, a plurality of feeds, means for racking thedial needles, a plurality of continuously operated needle actuating mechanisms, intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism and means for rendering said intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism inoperative to permit the racking of said' needles.

.7I A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating dial needles and a plurality of feeds, means for racking the dial needles,.

a plurality of continuously operating, and a plurality of intermittently operable needle actuating mechanisms for said dial needles and means for rendering the intermittently operable needle actuating mechanisms inoperative to permit the racking of said needles.

8. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating cylinder and dial needles and a plurality of feeds, means for racking said dial needles, a dial cam plate, a plurality of fixed knitting cams upon one see 1 tion of said dial cam plate, a throw-out knitting ca-m upon another section of said dial cam plate and means for shifting said throw-out, cam out of knitting position to permit the racking of the dial needles.

9. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating cylinder and dial needles and'a plurality of feeds, means for racking said dial needles, :1 dialcam; plate having a plurality of fixed knitting cams and a plurality of throw-out cams for actuating said dial needles andv means for shifting said throw-out cams out of knitting position-to permit the racking ofthe dial needles.

10. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating cylinder and dial needles and a flurality of feeds, means for racking said dial needles, a dial cam vplate having a plurality of fixed knitting cams located on adjacent quadrants of said dial cam plate and a plurality of throw-out guiding cams located upon quadrants of said dial cam plate opposite to those on which the fixed cams are located and pattern controlled means for-shifting said throw-out cams out of knitting position to permit racking of said needles.

11. A rib stitch knitting machine having cooperating cylinder and dial needles, and a plurality of feeds, means for racking said dial needles, a dial cam plate having a groove engaging the butts of the dial needles, a plurality of fixed knitting cams, a throw-out cam comprising mounted members, the adjacent walls of which form a section of said cam groove and -ineans for automatically shifting said throw-out 2am comprising a spring actuated lever normally extending beyond the periphpivotally ery of the cam dial plate and adapted to maintain the throw-out cam out of knitting position, a pattern controlled camplate adapted normally to engage said lever and force the throw-out cam into knitting position, means for retaining'the said lever in depressed position, pattern controlled means for'positioning said cam plate in the path of the retaining mer ns thereby to release said retaining means to permit the throw-out cam to be restored to inoperative position.

12. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating cylinder and dial needles and a plurality of feeds, meansfor racking one set of needles, a plurality of continuously operating needle actuating mechaand intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism, means for rendering said intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism inoperative during the racking operation, means for cutting and holding .the yarn leading to said intermittently operable mechanism during the racking operation, and means for automatically releasing said yarn after the intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism is restored to operative condition.

14. A rib stitch knitting machine having cooperating cylinder and dial needles and a plurality of feeds, means for racking the diallneedles, a plurality of continuously operating and a plurality of intermittently operable 'needle actuating mechanisms, cutting and holdingdevices supported upon the needle cylinder actuating cam adjacent to.

the cooperating knitting points of the cylinder needles and the intermittently operable dial needles, automatic means.operable by the mechanism which intefifiittently actuates the dial needles to actuate said cutting devices to sever and hold the'ithread during the suspension of actuationwofsaid dial needles.

.15. A ribstitch knitting machine comprising two sets of. needles, pattern controlled means for racking one set of needles, a plurallty' of actuating mechanisms for causing the cooperation of said needles to knit at a corresponding plurality of points, pattern controlled means for suspending the action of certain of the actuating mechanisms for one set of needles during the racking operation, means actuated by the pattern mechanism for racking adapted automatically to cause the actuation of the pattern controlled means for the said needle actuating mechanisms whereby the suspension, during the racking operation, of said actuating mechanism is insured.

16. A rib stitch knitting mechanism comprising co6perating cylinder and dial needles and a plurality of feeds, a dial cam plate, a plurality of fixed knitting cams upon one section of said dial cam plate, throw-out knitting cams upon another section of said dial cam plate, means for shiftin said throw-out cams into and out of vknitting position, rackingmechanism for said dial needles, and pattern controlled means actuated from said dial cam plate adapted to cause substantially simultaneous actuation of the means for shifting the throw-out cams and the mechanism for shifting the racking guides for said dial needles.

17. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating cylinder and dial needles and having a plurality of feeds, a dial cam plate, a plurality of fixed knitting cams upon one section of said dial cam plate and throw-out knitting cams upon another section of said dial cam plate, racking mechanism for said dial needles, mechanisms for, controlling the actuation of the throw-out cams and said racking means,- and pattern chains for controlling said mechanisms mounted upon drums actuated from the dial cam plate.

18. A rib stitch knitting machine comprising cooperating cylinder and dial needles and havinga'plurality of feeds, a dial cam plate having needle actuating cams certain of which are intermittently operable and stitch adjusting mechanism, a drum actuated from said dial cam plate, pattern chains upon said drum and means actuated by said pattern chains to control the actuation of certain of the dial needle actuating mechanisms and the stitch adjusting mechanisms, means for racking the needles, and a pattern phain upon said drum adapted to control the actuation of said racking mechanism in synchronism with the suspension of operation of the intermittently operable needle actuating mechanism.

r In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN H. RICE. 

